Considering that most New Englanders now feel they are living in Alaska, it is not surprising that snow and ice are causing a lot of car accidents in the past weeks. This has led to a common recurring question – why am I at fault for an accident caused by snow or ice? It is a reasonable question. If your car slides on ice and you are unable to come to a stop despite your absolute best efforts, then why should you be responsible if you rear end someone. You couldn’t help the slide, after all.
As reasonable an argument as that may be, the reality is that anyone who operates a vehicle in snow and ice willingly takes on the risk that comes with those conditions. We all know that it is dangerous to drive in the snow and therefore we take responsibility if we lose control of our car. Any injuries or property damage that are caused will be the responsibility of the person who lost control in the snow.
Aside from this, auto accidents caused by snow and ice are subject to the same rules of the road as any other car accident. If you hit a patch of ice and slide through a stop sign striking another vehicle, you will be responsible for the damages caused. Rhode Island does not become a no-fault state because of snow and ice. If you have been hurt in a car accident caused during the recent snow storms, contact our office for a free consultation.